I have been watching some red splotches on my torso for years, and recently they moved to my neck. They started during a time that my life was extremely stressful, but I also camped for several weeks and had less-than-ideal hygiene situations. I have always wondered if it was was fungal, but doctor says it's nothing. Lately, the torso splotches are growing and appear after I shower. They calm down when I cool down. My neck, however, is new and not cooperating. I am wondering if ther is a deeper issue.

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I was in a similar situation like you, years back. Stress, bad hygiene. Spots appeared on my back, they were very itchy at times. My GP explained to me,they were fungal and prescript a cream, it has taken years to get rid of it.

My advice would be: see a skin specialist if your doc think it is nothing. If it is irritating you, it is not right!

When you say that they "appear after your shower...then calm down when you cool down" it sounds like it could be [a mild form of] erthyma ab igne.

The pattern of the blotches you describe [neck, torso] would be where the hot water is mainly hitting your body over a prolonged period during your shower.

It might be more obvious if you have a hot bath – you should see a definite difference, between the skin that's submerged in the hot water, which would be bright pink and the rest of you above water which would be your normal skin tone.

As the water cools down or you do after the bath then it should disappear.

If it's erythema, the only thing you can do to avoid it is not to have such hot showers or baths.

If you have an endo who is monitoring you, you could mention it to him/her and they can confirm it.

Hypothyroids are prone to it but others get it also. It can also be seen as a red/brown reticulated hyperpigmentation pattern as described below.

It is characterized as localized areas of reticulated erythema and hyperpigmentation due to chronic and repeated exposure to infrared radiation. Patients with erythema ab igne have a history of repeated exposures to heat at a lower level than that which causes a thermal burn. Other terms used to describe erythema ab igne include toasted skin syndrome and fire stains.

Initially, the skin in erythema ab igne patients is often mildly erythematous; however, after repeated heat exposures, the classic blue, purple, or brown reticulated hyperpigmentation develops.